Page 117 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Valeriy Nizhnik

An Orphanage Graduate
Town of Artem

Home Is the Place Where They Trust You

When I was a child, I loved to stay at my grandmother’s. She
lived in Shmakovsky district. I always travelled to grandma on my
own. My parents were alcohol addicts and from my early child-
hood I was growing up in the street – absolute freedom and no
commitments.
Who knows how this would have ended? But when I was 13
my life changed. a social service representative together with 6
policemen with dogs came to my parents’ to tell them I would
be transferred to the summer camp for vacation. Together with
my friends who lived in the neighborhood and found themselves
in the same situation we were sent to Dunai rehabilitation cen-
tre. We wanted to return back home but failed to escape. I got
used to the environment, but soon, together with my friend I was
transferred to the orphanage of the town of Artem. I was crying
from resentment: new faces again…
But I should not have cried – having met the team at the new
site, I understood that here was my home! Here they trusted in
me, provided me with help in self-development, recognized my
talents and skills. I liked it so much to act on stage (my Jack Spar-
row was a great success), to elaborate scenarios for events, par-
ticipate in literature contests and be a party host.
Now I am very keen on the topic of career guidance. We are
visited by the volunteers of the charity fund “HOPE Worldwide”.
If I feel lost, they l always find answers to complicated questions.
They introduced me to the charity program “Generation Choice”
of the KFC Corporate Charity Fund “Opening Horizons”. The pro-
gram provides the opportunity to study the profession and try
oneself in it – invaluable experience. You understand what suits
you personally, which is very important for every individual!
The volunteers are great guys, sharing their experience, tell-
ing how they have been using the things that we learn during
our trainings. These people have become very dear to me, and
I would very much like to continue communicating with them,
when I start my adult life. Thank you, my mentors!